Corruption is generally defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It is a commonly shared view that poor undermines the main objectives of private and public activities and distracts from their main goals. The lack of integrity affects fundamental rights. Moreover corruption “distorts competition, hinders economic development and endangers the stability of democratic institutions and the moral foundations of society”. Corruption is even more unacceptable and serious when it is perpetrated by public authorities as it erodes the pillars of democracy. People’s representatives are all too often captured by non-transparent economic interests and divert the pursuit of public and citizens’ interests. Illegal behavior buys the loyalty that politicians should have towards citizens, and captures the independent exercise of sovereignty for the benefit of maintaining privileges among the corrupts. Corruption in the hole public procurement cycle represents an emblematic case of such diversion. Integrity of public procurement processes is universally recognized as a necessary condition to achieve public policies, and thus to make proper use of precious taxpayer resources. Lack of integrity in public procurement at any level of Government is, however, a well-documented phenomenon, which takes several and sometimes surprising forms. The (estimated) economic cost of corrupt procurement is staggering, and it exerts a profoundly negative impact not only on the economy of States but also on citizens’ rights. In order to understand corruption in public procurement, it is important to comprehend the procurement process taking into account the entire public procurement cycle.
Public Procurement and Corruption: the EU challenges
Gabriella M. Racca
2019-01-01
Abstract
Corruption is generally defined as the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It is a commonly shared view that poor undermines the main objectives of private and public activities and distracts from their main goals. The lack of integrity affects fundamental rights. Moreover corruption “distorts competition, hinders economic development and endangers the stability of democratic institutions and the moral foundations of society”. Corruption is even more unacceptable and serious when it is perpetrated by public authorities as it erodes the pillars of democracy. People’s representatives are all too often captured by non-transparent economic interests and divert the pursuit of public and citizens’ interests. Illegal behavior buys the loyalty that politicians should have towards citizens, and captures the independent exercise of sovereignty for the benefit of maintaining privileges among the corrupts. Corruption in the hole public procurement cycle represents an emblematic case of such diversion. Integrity of public procurement processes is universally recognized as a necessary condition to achieve public policies, and thus to make proper use of precious taxpayer resources. Lack of integrity in public procurement at any level of Government is, however, a well-documented phenomenon, which takes several and sometimes surprising forms. The (estimated) economic cost of corrupt procurement is staggering, and it exerts a profoundly negative impact not only on the economy of States but also on citizens’ rights. In order to understand corruption in public procurement, it is important to comprehend the procurement process taking into account the entire public procurement cycle.
I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
